Connecticut Women Basketball vs BYU November 29, 2007

Photographs of the game

After returning from a six-day tournament trip in the Virgin Islands Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma put his team through tough practices prior to this game including puting in some new plays. For most of the first half of Thursday night's game against BYU he had them pressing the Cougars. The result? The Huskies scored the first 23 points and routing the Cougars 80-34. It was never a game. Auriemma was quoted "I was trying to mentally get them worn out, and see how they would respond" . "Because the trip was long, and they are tired. But when you get tired, your mind can either make you untired, or more tired." Tired was definately not the issue, especially on defense. The Huskies held the Cougars (3-3) scoreless until Mallary Gillespie-Carling hit a short jumper After more than 9 minutes had elapsed, resulting in a big ovation from the overwhelmingly UConn faithful in attendance. BYU hit just 4 of 25 shots in the first half, and trailed 42-11 at intermission. It was the fewest points Connecticut had allowed in a half since holding Providence to six in the first half of a a 71-24 win in 2005. "That's not my team," BYU coach Jeff Judkins said. "They were scared tonight for some reason. I know we're going to learn from this and get better. Sometimes you need to get kicked in the face to learn." If that was her goal Storrs, CT was the place to come. Freshman phenom Maya Moore came off the bench to lead UConn with 17 points. She hit her first four shots and was 8-of-12 from the field, becoming the first Connecticut player to reach double figures in each of her first six starts. Tina Charles had her second double-double of the season, with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Mel Thomas added 14 points, leaving her just five shy of 1,000 for her career. Shawnee Slade led BYU with 10 points. Game Notes:
UConn has held all six of its opponents to 54 points or less, and five under 50. The Huskies held BYU to 26 percent shooting from the floor, and just 16 percent in the first half. UConn outrebounded the Cougars 51-30.
Judkins said that Connecticut's play in the post, especially the defense of Charles underneath, was the key to the blowout.
"Coach made it hard for us, just trying to test us and make sure we were able to just go," Charles said. "I thought we did a great job just going." The Huskies didn't do everything well. UConn shot just 33 percent from the foul line.
UConn has won 19 consecutive regular-season games.